VAIN STHLM Originals Review: Great Sound Tuned In Sweden

VAIN STHLM is a Swedish headphone company who is trying to break into the U.S. market with some higher end in-ear headphones, the Originals. The headphone market is absolutely saturated here in the States so what makes VAIN STHLM stand apart? Let’s find out in our VAIN STHLM Originals review — as VAIN STHLM says, “tuned in Sweden.”

Specifications

Driver: 11 mm dynamic driver

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz

Impedance: 16 Ω

Sensitivity: 107dB @ 1 kHz

Remote for music, compatible with iPhone, Android and Windows Phone

Microphone for voice-calls

Magnetic ear pieces

Flexible braided cable

L-shaped rubber headphone connector

Gold tipped 3.5mm plug

What’s in the Box

1x VAIN STHLM Originals in-ear headphones

1x carrying case

Design

The first thing I noticed about the pair of VAIN STHLM Originals that were sent to me was the color, Dusty Pink. The headphones come in five other colors as well and they’re all very muted and actually very nice. Not at all over the top or gaudy, just some simple elegant colors for simple taste. The construction is top notch as well, I was expecting the headphones to be made of all aluminum but they were a mix of high quality plastics and aluminum along with magnets on the ends.

The magnets are pretty nifty as they clip the headphones together when not in use and makes storing them a little bit easier. Speaking of storing, the VAIN STHLM Originals also come with a very cool little storage tin that works brilliantly and is also lined with a nice cloth material that keeps the headphones from clanking around inside. The braided cable is also nice and has dual colors woven into it to match the headphone part where the plastic and aluminum are.

The 3.5mm headphone connector is encased in a flexible rubber material that is supposed to help so you don’t snap it off, if you tend to put pressure on that point of your headphones. Overall the design is top notch and the materials used in the construction of these headphones is quality through and through.

Sound

The creators of the VAIN STHLM Originals are two brothers from Stockholm, Sweden, who both happen to be DJs and had a passion for music. As with a lot of DJs, the brothers seem to favor the low end of sound and there is no shortage of it with these headphones. If you like low end bass driven headphones then the VAIN STHLM Original’s are for you. The highs and the mids are there, the bass doesn’t drown them out, but you will hear the punchiness in these drivers.

Speaking of drivers, these drivers are a bit bigger than normal in ear headphone drivers at 11mm which is why the bass is so prevalent. The sound quality on these things is really top notch and because they’re wired, you won’t experience some of the sound degradation you might find with Bluetooth headphones. Overall the sound is really great and even though I’m not a huge bass fan, I didn’t feel the bass was too much for the music I like.

Call Quality

Call quality is impeccable — both hearing the other party and the other party hearing me clearly. It just worked.

Price/Value

Not the cheapest set of headphones on the market but also not the most expensive. You might be able to find other headphones close to this caliber in and around the same price ($75.00) but the VAIN STHLM Originals should at the very least be on your “to consider” list.

UPDATE: VAIN STHLM contacted us about the pricing. These are actually priced at $75 USD not $92.50 as we previously wrote. Pricing has been updated and we gave these headphones a bump up in their price/value score.

Wrap Up

Great headphones, great sound, great design…something to consider alongside other headphones in the $70-$100 range.

These Swedish born in ears have some deep driving bass with a great balance of mids and highs. Love the design, flexible cable and plug. The price point isn't for everyone but these are great sounding headphones indeed.

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